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Paper vs. Electronic Logbooks: Pros and Cons

Find out the best flight logbook for you—paper, digital, or a combination.

Carly writes in her logbook
You may consider using more than one type or brand of logbook to diversify your data storage. [Photo by Carly Chamerlik | Flying Magazine]
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Key Takeaways:

  • Pilot logbooks, available in paper or electronic formats, are essential for tracking flight hours, experience, qualifications, and currency, serving as crucial legal documentation for pilots.
  • Paper logbooks offer tangibility and universal acceptance but are prone to physical damage, loss, and human error in manual calculations, while electronic logbooks provide automatic calculations, advanced reporting, and secure cloud backup, though they involve a learning curve, technology dependence, and potential subscription costs.
  • The best logbook choice depends on individual needs and situations; electronic logs excel in career advancement and data analysis, while paper logbooks offer reliable access in connectivity-limited environments like the cockpit or during ramp inspections.
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Logging flight time and experience is an essential part of becoming a pilot. Logbooks, both paper and electronic, help pilots track and organize their hours and endorsements for future reference.

Deciding which type of logbook to use is important to do early on in your flying career, if possible. The more hours a pilot accumulates, the more work it will be to transfer all of that information into a new format. Before choosing a logbook, consider these pros and cons to determine which one is right for you.

Carly Chamerlik

Carly Chamerlik is a commercial pilot, independent flight instructor, former flight attendant, and aviation content creator. Her mission is to inspire others to learn how to fly, and to make general aviation more accessible to the next generation of pilots. She writes about flight training, pilot gear, business aviation, and aviation tech.

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